Best dead coat removal method/tool?

S

SkewbyTwo

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 December 2012
Messages
178
Visit site
Horses have wintered off and for the first time in years I find myself coming into spring with handfuls of coat coming out (normally fully clipped).

What's the best way for me to be rid of all this stuff?! I remember using a small charcoal-like block years ago, but I also remember that these were annoyingly small, and vanished quickly due to needing constant re-sharpening on the closest wall.

I have a round metal curry, a "magic brush", and a scraper type thing. None are really doing it for me.

Suggestions??
 
Rectangular metal curry comb....or furminator.....but then a metal curry is only five or more furminators lined up one after another and a lot cheaper. My five year old falls asleep when I curry him.....was turned away this winter, so full ID coat .

I also alternate with a rubber circular curry and a damp cloth.
 
Last edited:
i swear by my adjustable shedding blade. I buy one designed for dogs as it is adjustable which means, unlike the horse ones, you can make the blade loop much smaller making it easier to get a good rake going. (dont think i've done a very good job of explaining why it's better, lol, just believe me that it is :D )

It is this one - http://www.petsperfect.co.uk/produc...um=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=238660089
 
JustKickOn said:
But this mucks up their summer coat that is pushing through if clipping now. :(
Click to expand...

I have never, ever, found any true backing for this. The only thing I can think of, is if doing anything other than full, you're at risk of still having clip lines for show season - IF you show.

I've done it myself countless times, and I've had nothing other than a far more comfortable horse!
 
cinnamontoast said:
Clip!
Click to expand...

JustKickOn said:
But this mucks up their summer coat that is pushing through if clipping now. :(
Click to expand...

SkewbyTwo said:
I have never, ever, found any true backing for this. The only thing I can think of, is if doing anything other than full, you're at risk of still having clip lines for show season - IF you show.

I've done it myself countless times, and I've had nothing other than a far more comfortable horse!
Click to expand...

Totally agree! Had eventers that were clipped out ALL YEAR ROUND and still got best turned out prizes. Not showing agreed, but can't see how it damages the coat...IMO it IMPROVES the coat as makes it much closer. Or, maybe I'm missing something...? Not a showing affecionado, and have never professed to be so....
 
I clipped my bay in April and it definitely ruined his summer coat until about Aug. His coat was paler that usual and didn't sit as sleekly if that makes sense. Never did it again!

I didn't groom for about 3 weeks and the whole coat would be off by then. Trying to shed the coat just made it look motheaten:(
 
SkewbyTwo said:
Horses have wintered off and for the first time in years I find myself coming into spring with handfuls of coat coming out (normally fully clipped).

What's the best way for me to be rid of all this stuff?! I remember using a small charcoal-like block years ago, but I also remember that these were annoyingly small, and vanished quickly due to needing constant re-sharpening on the closest wall.

I have a round metal curry, a "magic brush", and a scraper type thing. None are really doing it for me.

Suggestions??
Click to expand...
scraper and elbow grease - failing that I wait till they have rolled it out themselves
 
SkewbyTwo and gunnerdog, I clipped my old mare once at the end of March, and her usual glossy copper coat was dull and felt blunt (if that makes sense). It had lost it's 'wow' look. That was the first year we weren't placed at a best turned out (held late July) when we had been 1st, 1st and 2nd the past few years and the judge said her coat was 'somewhat lacking'. Last time I'm ever clipping after the end of February.
 
well I just had my piebald boy trace clipped again as he was getting too hot and uncomfy. Luckily he is not shiny anyway, being a piebald, and we weren't aiming at Search for a Star this year :p so I think we will cope. I have just bought a shedding blade to help him with the unclipped bits!

My other horse has a curly coat (its his breed) and nothing much shifts that apart from Mother Nature! :)
 
Clipping won't make a difference; the winter coat still needs to come out, it will just be shorter! You'll still have to get in there with plenty of elbow grease and a good curry comb. And yes, if the coat has started to shift, it means the summer coat is coming through, and you could very well clip the ends off the coat. Just lots of brushing and time without a rug on works best.
 
The metal shredding blades are the best option in my opinion - use to have to deal with this year-round with my pony who had Cushings! Sometimes they also get little patches that are particularly sheddy, and for those it's really therapeutic to just 'pluck' them - the hair comes out in huge clumps with so effort, like feathers! Mum used to tell me off for doing it absent-mindedly while out hacking and leaving trails of hair through the village....

And I second letting them have a good roll, though it does mean you get hilarious rug-style patches on hair-covered grass.,=..
 
I use a metal sweat scraper thing which can also be used as a shredding bladewhen it coming out in huge drifts. They are brill. Otherwise rubber curry combs work well but take a little more effort.
 
nikkitodhunter said:
Sometimes they also get little patches that are particularly sheddy, and for those it's really therapeutic to just 'pluck' them - the hair comes out in huge clumps with so effort, like feathers!
Click to expand...

When I was about 12, I made my pony into an Appaloosa for a couple of weeks over the Easter holidays! He was a dun who turned really pale over the winter and had a dark chocolate brown spring coat by plucking out patches of his pale hair and leaving the dark hair showing as spots!

That was when I had time on my hands . . . sigh . . .
 
Like so many things, I think it depends on the horse - how fine the coat is and how thin-skinned/sensitive the animal. Kali hates shedding blades - he finds them too scratchy (isn't a fan of stiff bristled brushes either for the same reason) so I use a rubber curry, a furminator, lots of elbow grease and give him as much naked turnout time as possible - oh, and as soon as it's warm enough, he gets a bath to help loosen off the rest of the coat. For our old mare, Nelly, the shedding blade was the only thing that worked, but she was a native.

P
 
JustKickOn said:
But this mucks up their summer coat that is pushing through if clipping now. :(
Click to expand...

That's not true for all horses, I do wish people would stop saying it like it's gospel. Try it and see (if you're not showing this season). I used to clip mine all year round and it made zero difference. I'm very tempted to get the clippers out next week.

I did his belly purely because he was muddy and getting funny about being groomed there, probably because it was pulling. It looks so fab that I'm tempted to do the rest.
 
Which furminator to buy...the horse one is approx £35....is is so good it''s worth the outlay? I'm pretty desperate as the shedding blade doesn't go down very well, and magic brushes are good but get clogged all the time....filthy grey pony who is one big urine stain! I think I'll clip next year.
 
These are the best IME - fetch it all out and you just tap it out and start again http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Horze-Red...073?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item232af65ce9
I've used them for years and the only other thing I use is one of these, used at an angle so the long edge drags out the loose hair. Take a bit more to empty of hairs, but a sharp tap on the top of the door works well.
Neither need a second mortgage
 
This morning it was:

47226-R018_1.jpg


lincoln_circular_rubber_curry_comb%20.png


Roma%20Plastic%20Sarvis%20Curry%20Comb.jpg


SheddingBlade_001.jpg


30_furminator_large.jpg


super-groomer-9001485-0-1347559281000.jpg


Took about an hour! The last thing is called a Super Groomer, it's the best thing in my grooming box.
 
DD265 - I LOVE your post with pics, I use all these except the Furmintor..which one do you use? I would add THREE Magic Brushes per grooming session!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top